Red Phalarope – visitor from Tundra

Red Phalarope Phalaropus fulicarius were seen several days at Kolka cape. It is a wading bird which has been observed only six times in Latvia. This bird species nest in Arctic regions while winter they spend in southern hemisphere. It has reached Latvia mistakenly as normally their migration path is further away from our country. Peculiar is their feeding method – while swimming they circle around in the water making swirls that bring up different invertebrates they feed on.They return to their nesting places in late May and lay four sometimes three eggs in simple small pit on the coast of a lake. What is interesting that about three weeks only male Red Phalarope brood. Even later when chicks are hatched, male is the one to lead them in big world.

In the video material it can be seen that while swimming among waves it feed on different invertebrates, only this time sea itself mixes water and seaweed. Little bird only has to pick it up.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rooiw56fsfE

Aļņu un briežu baurs

Patlaban Slīteres nacionālajā parka riesto aļņi un staltbrieži. Riesta laikā aļņu buļļi bada kokus un krūmus, kasa zemi. Sekrēcijas dziedzeri atrodas uz kājām un galvas, tas ļauj iezīmēt teritoriju. Buļļi dažas nedēļas pirms riesta sākuma sāk kārpīt bedres un čurāt tajās, tā stimulējot briežu govju meklēšanos.

Alnis ir lielākais briedis pasaulē. Ķermeņa garums buļļiem gandrīz 3 m, augstums skaustā ap 2 m, svars - līdz pustonnai. Tiesa, mūsdienās tik lieli aļņi sastopami reti. Mātītes mazākas un vieglākas. Staltbrieži ir mazāki. Tikai aļņu un staltbriežu tēviņiem ir ‘turnīra’ ierocis - ragi. Tie iedveš bijāšanu sāncenšiem un liek tīksmi drebēt mātītēm. Katru rudeni pēc riesta aļņu bullis ragus nomet un tie sāk augt vien nākošajā pavasarī. Savukārt staltbriedis staigā ragains līdz pat martam.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kVVSSHSODIQ

Alnis ir naskākais kokēdājs no visiem Latvijas briežiem, viņa gremošanas trakts ir gandrīz 100 l tilpumā un īpaši pielāgots celulozes bagātas kokaugu masas pārstrādāšanai. Garais aļņa purns un „snuķveidīgā” augšlūpa piemēroti zaru plūkšanai. Ziemā pieaudzis alnis diennaktī patērē 10–13 kg kokaugu barības, vasarā ap 30-40 kg lakstaugu. Staltbrieži pārtiek no koku jaunajiem dzinumiem, lapām, lakstaugiem, ķērpjiem utml. smalkākas barības. Riestojot tiek patērēts liels enerģijas daudzums un zvēri stipri novājē. Bargās ziemās nereti aiziet bojā spēcīgi buļļi, kuri pārāk daudz enerģijas veltījuši riestam un līdz ziemai nav paspējuši uzbaroties.

Badgers

Badgers are diggers. They live in families and clans making cave systems where groundwater is deep and there is some solid rock layer that can serve as a ceiling. In Slitere National Park this layer is sandstone. Badger rut is in the middle of summer when they are rutting quite passionate. Mating can last even one hour. After that latent period starts and fertilized ovum starts developing only six months later, when winter has ended and spring has begun.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yYUlqgtJ3cE

In early spring young ones are born. They spend their first 2 months in dark caves. Usually they come out of the cave in June and stay near it. They start to explore the surroundings. At first they stay beside the entrance of the cave and sometimes explore few meters around it. Parents do not mind. When frightened, cubs run into the cave without hesitation. After some time mother starts to walk around with cubs at first some 10 meters away from the cave and then further and further. The young ones tries to copy mothers behaviour and learns how to find food – invertebrates, small rodents, amphibians and reptiles, berries and grain. They also learn how to escape enemies and explore surroundings. In autumn, cubs become independent. Sometimes, if the cave system is large enough, parents let the little ones stay in empty part of the cave system, but usually young badgers spend their first winters someplace else. Before winter badgers clean their caves and bring in new materials like moss, ferns and grass. When weather becomes colder they dig special caves to sleep in and go to sleep. Some narrow vertical tunnels serve as aperture for ventilation. They use up their fat layer during winter but sometimes in early spring you can see badger track in the snow. Even for badger it is hard to sleep all winter.

Breeding Roe Deer

Roe deer are breeding in July and August. Males fight for and defend their territory against other males by marking it with their scent which they leave on every other bush they butt and on the ground they scratch. Often in the meadows there are circles with diameter of 2-3 m. These are made by roebuck and its mate in a peculiar mating dance during which doe circle around small bush or clump while roebuck is trying to keep up.Fawns are born in June as the Roe deer has a long latent period of pregnancy. Implantation of the embryo usually occurs in January.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=he0MI3O6tks

In Slitere forests with camera

Movies give a chance to see for yourself the hidden life of animals living in Slitere National Park. Author: zoologist Vilnis Skuja.

The Natterjack Toad is spawning

Black Grouse are lekking in Slitere

Viļņa Skujas abinieku un rāpuļu fotoizstāde Slīteres bākā

Līdz 1. jūlijam Dundagas novada Slīteres bākā apskatāma zoologa Viļņa Skujas dzīvnieku fotogrāfiju izstāde. Tajā apkopoti Slīteres nacionālajā parkā fotografēto abinieku – zaļās vardes, smilšu krupja un lielā tritona, kā arī rāpuļu – odzes, zalkša, pļavu  un sila ķirzakas portreti. Vilnis Skuja ir ilggadējs Slīteres nacionālā parka dabas pētnieks, kaislīgs dabas fotogrāfs un dabas procesu prasmīgs skaidrotājs. Šī ir pirmā autora fotoizstāde, kas tapusi ar Baltijas jūras reģiona programmas projekta „Baltijas Zaļā josta” atbalstu. Turpmāk šovasar izstāde ceļos pa Ziemeļkurzemi un vēlāk arī citiem Latvijas novadiem. Aicināti visi dabas mīļotāji! Vērosim un saudzēsim dabu kopā!

The natterjack toad is spawning

At the beaches of Slītere NP is spawning the natterjack toad Bufo calamita – specially protected species at European level. This amphibian is living unnoticed whole year, and only in late May the natterjack toad males get together to the rut. Then their mating song can be heard quite far because of their flexible vocal sack found under the chin, which serves as a resonator. The mating call is a little similar to nightjar’s song. The natterjack toad stands out among the rest of the amphibians’ because of their ability to lay eggs into salty water. Eggs are arranged in a row, creating up to two meters long 'string'. Tadpole hatch in about a week and after three weeks turn into small toads. The process is very fast because the natterjack toads spawn in shallow pools, which dries rapidly, so time is life.

In daytime toad is hiding in the root tangle in the dip of the bank. When on the beach at times of distress it dives and hides in a pool. Toad has very few natural enemies as he releases rammish mucus, which prevents the attacker. Very negative impact on populations has driving along the beach as hidden toad is not visible from cars or motorbikes.

[nggallery id=13]

Black grouse are lekking in Slitere

Slitere National Park area is occupied by swampy forests. Numerous small bogs in the marshy depressions form an open landscape, which is very suitable for black grouse. The amount of berries is very important. It seems that also the fact that in the territory of SNP bird hunting is banned for thirty years is important - this ensure calm environment for black grouse to mate. These and probably many other factors determine that the largest grouse lek in Slitere National Park is also the largest in Latvia, Baltic States and possibly in Europe. Here in one lek counted 66 black grouse males.To Grouse lek males fly long distances. Each male occupies its territory. The most valuable areas are placed at the center of the lek. Here are lekking most experienced and strongest males. Blackcocks show off in front of the females. When the lekking has achieved its peak, greyhens display at the lek and choose a male to mate with. Apparently, when they have arrived the intensity of the lekking grows. Males strike against one another with breasts, jumps into the air and hiss loudly. At first female lands at the periphery of the lek, but then goes to the center, where she finds herself a pleasant partner. In silent and calm mornings loud rookoing (mating call) can be heard far away. Grouse males are dressed particularly splendid. Black blue feathers are contrasting with bright white. Grouse males 'eyebrows' acquires very particular red tone. Unlike the males, females are dressed very simple and yet they are precisely the ones choosing.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uxfyeu_qorg

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Frog and toad breeding

Although the northern slopes of the hills still are covered with snow and ice in interdune depressions has not melted yet, spring has begun. Eagles and ravens, for which there was no shortage of animal carcasses this winter, returns to their territories. Sky is full of winged travelers going home. Forests and grasslands are full of bird voices. It seems that the bird songs suppress all the other sounds of nature, and yet, if well-listened, from sun shined waters it can be heard something like a cat purring, whereas distant dog barking, there spawn brown frogs and toads. Brown frogs are the very first that start to spawn. Their body is in brown tones. In Latvia there are two brown frog species - the common frog and the moor frog. Both species are difficult to tell apart, but in the spring - mating time, it is a lot easier to do. Frog mating songs are different. Common frogs at spawning site purr as a cat, but moor frog sounds as if something was bubbling in a huge pot. Often these two species are heard in one place. Males of both species during mating time turn bluish. Common frog male at this time obtains bluish dewlap, while moor frog males also have bluish flanks. In addition, the moor frog has more pointed nose and shorter limbs.

Common frogs spend the winter under the water, where they dig into the mud. Most of the moor frogs spend winter on land. At spawning areas first arrive males. When they have found suitable place, they start singing and waiting for females, which arrive later and at the spawning site spends three times shorter time than the males. Rut lasts only 2-3 weeks. Males stick like a limpet to female. Sometimes, unable to find a female, they tend to cling to one another, and even inanimate objects. Females are larger than males and therefore are able to jump around with the lover on her back, as if it was a backpack and nothing more. Female releases spawn at the bottom of water body, at the same time 'backpack' - the male releases sperm and it is done - the spawn is fertilized. After a day pericarp swells up and rises to the surface. Depending on water temperature, sooner or later from the spawn will hatch tadpoles.

At northern coast of Courland in suitable habitats frogs are found in large numbers. In SNP the common frog is occurred more often, but in some places, such as Pēterezera Viga moor frog spawn in large numbers. It is included in the Latvian Red List. As a specially protected brown frogs are included in the appendix of EU Habitats Directive and the Berne Convention. Frog presence gives the evidence of environmental quality. Frogs have priceless role in food chains.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3GsvSgMWRt0

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Golden Eagle

Golden eagle approach the queer looking food carefully. It takes stock of the situation for a while (legs on the top of the frame) and as no threat is spotted start eating. Eagles this winter may be very picky as a lot of fallen animals can be found. Eagle leaves, as this food does not seem the best.

Foxe's good luck

It wasn’t a lucky night for the moose – wolves drove him into a moor. Bull was exhausted and what is more, he was plunged till his stomach, so he wasn’t able to use his main weapons – forelegs, which are lethal for wolves. For one - a tragedy, but to another – a good luck.  With the remains of the moose dozen ravens, a flock of crows, magpie and eagles could feast for a week, as well as martens, foxes and racoon dogs. For the fox couple it is a very happy week, as the table of food is located within their territory.

[nggallery id=6]

Common Buzzard

Common Buzzard should be in Western Europe in winters, because its main food - small rodents, live under the snow and are hard to catch, so the only chance is to find some fallen animal. Eating is anxious, but guaranteed.

Hooded Crow

Crows are not frequent in the forest. This one, similar to the tit, prefers solitary life and bellyful. The crow must keep the distance all the time. If it becomes inattentive the eagle will eat it. Only when the eagle is far away the crow can eat safely.

Fight between White-tailed Eagles

One must fight for the meal. Bigger and older birds have an advantage. The raven feels the martial spirit of White-tailed Eagles and do not dare to eat. Ravens would feel safer and act more impudent in flock.

White tailed eagle finds food

White-tailed eagle by watching ravens behavior may determine the location of the food. This is a third winter’s eagle. It shall investigate and verify security of the location. Jay uses absence of the eagle and lands on the carrion. It does not let opportunities pass to feast on the fallen animal. The eagle returns. It is very attentive when arriving at carrion the first time. The eagle can eat much meat at once, so eat less frequently than small birds and afford scouting for longer period of time.

Scout Ravens

Animal carcasses are usually found by the local raven couple. They often hide their food even several hundred meters away from the bait. This is the feed stock for a rainy day. A Great Tit is nearby. It is interesting that this came to separate from other tit flock, which would be safer to be in. Apparently the weather forces them to change their habits. A tit can lose 10% of its weight over one cold night. However, this tit is fed, so it will not freeze.

Ērgļi un citi putni Slīteres nacionālajā parkā

Lai apzinātu par apdraudētu uzskatītās Baltijas jūras ērgļu populācijas stāvokli, 1976. gadā Zviedrijā tika iniciēta starptautiska gredzenošanas programma, kuras ietvaros ērgļus gredzeno ar krāsainiem gredzeniem (skatīt attēlu). Ar optisko ierīču palīdzību tie ir nolasāmi no attāluma. Iegūtie dati ļauj sekot putnu izplatībai, to izdzīvošanas sekmēm un citiem populāciju raksturojošiem lielumiem. Jūras ērgļu piesaistei izmanto kritušus dzīvniekus, ar kuriem tie labprāt barojas. Programmai pievienojušās Baltijas jūras valstis, Norvēģija un Baltkrievija. Latvija programmai pievienojās 1984. gadā. Gredzenu nolasīšana uzsākta Ķemeru nacionālajā parkā, Slīteres nacionālā parka speciālisti programmai pievienojās 2008. gadā.

Izmantojot izdevību nolēmām novietot webkameru ērgļu piesaistes punktā, dodot iespēju arī jums ieskatīties šo lielo putnu dzīvē.

Jūras ērglis - lielākais no Latvijā sastopamajiem ērgļiem. Spārnu izpletums līdz 2,4 m. Lidojumā uzkrītoši plati spārni. Apspalvojums brūns. Pieaugušajiem putniem aste balta, jaunajiem astes spalvas raibas, stūrspalvu gali ar tumšāku joslu. Aste ķīļveidīga (skatīt palīgu jūras ērgļa noteikšanai. Izmantots: Svensson L., Grant P.J., Mullarney K., Zetterström D. 1999(a). Collins Bird Guide: the Most Complete Field Guide to the Birds of Britain and Europe. HarperCollinsPublishers, London). Pārtiek no zivīm, putniem, zīdītājiem. Ziemā labprāt barojas ar kritušiem zvēriem. Medī no novērošanas vietas vai zemā lidojumā.

Klinšu ērglis - nedaudz mazāks par jūras ērgli. Spārnu izpletums 2,2 m. Apspalvojums tumšbrūns, galvasvirsa un skausts zeltaini dzelteni. Aste noapaļota. Jaunajiem, dzimumgatavību nesasniegušajiem putniem aste gaiša ar tumšu apmali. Pieaugušajiem astes spalvas pelēkas ar tumšām joslām (skatīt palīgu klinšu ērgļa noteikšanai. Izmantots: Svensson L., Grant P.J., Mullarney K., Zetterström D. 1999(a). Collins Bird Guide: the Most Complete Field Guide to the Birds of Britain and Europe. HarperCollinsPublishers, London). Pārtiek no putniem un zīdītājiem, ziemā arī kritušajiem zvēriem.

Klinšu un jūras ērgļi ligzdot sāk ne ātrāk kā piektajā dzīves gadā. Ērgļu mātītes ir augumā lielākas par tēviņiem.

Ziemās ērgļi klejo plašās teritorijās. Slīteres nacionālajā parkā sastaptie jūras ērgļi gredzenoti Igaunijā, Somijā un Lietuvā.

Ērgļu dzīvē svarīgākā maņa ir redze. Ērgļiem ir salīdzinoši lielas acis (skatīt attēlu). Varens ierocis ir gariem, spēcīgiem nagiem bruņotās kājas. Sakampis medījumu ērglis tajā ielaiž nagus un ritmiski kustinot pirkstus iespiež asos nagus upura ķermenī. Knābis ir tikai ‘gaļas plēšamais āķis’. Kritušie zvēri nodrošina ērgļus ar viegli pieejamu un augstvērtīgu barību. Maita vairs nav jāķer, pie tam tiek izslēgta iespēja gūt traumu, kā tas mēdz notikt ērglim medījot, tāpēc bieži vien pie krituša zvēra, cerībā uz vieglu maltīti sapulcējas vairāki ērgļi vienkopus. Te sākas konkurence par labāko vietu pie ‘galda’. Priekšroka parasti ir vecākajiem un stiprākajiem putniem, bet mēdz būt arī izņēmumi. Ērgļu savstarpējās attiecības padara ērgļu vērošanu par aizraujošu nodarbi.

Dzīve sniegā

Lielos zīdītājus ziemā katram no mums nācies novērot kaut vai pa automašīnas logu, bet kā ar sniega segu sadzīvo mazie zvēriņi: kukaiņēdāji – ciršļi un kurmji, grauzēji – strupastes un peles, sīkie plēsēji? Slēpojot mežā, bieži nākas šķērsot, to sīkās pēdu virtenītes. Kurmji ir aktīvi cauru ziemu. Tie izmanto radušos iespēju dzīvot virszemē, savas alas ierīkojot tieši zem sniega segas. Kurmji turpina baroties ar sliekām un kukaiņiem, kurus medī nedzīvajā zemsedzē. No viena barošanās iecirkņa uz citu kurmji pāriet, izmantojot sniegā ierīkotas ejas.

Ciršļu straujā vielmaiņa liek tiem atrasties nepārtrauktā kustībā barības meklējumos. Šie dzīvnieciņi paši ejas sniegā nerok, bet izmanto tukšumus zem celmiem, kritušiem kokiem, kā arī sīko grauzēju alas. Reizēm lielākus attālumus tie pārvar, pārvietojoties pa sniega virsmu. Tas ir riskanti, ne tikai tāpēc, ka dzīvnieciņu var pamanīt un noķert plēsējs. Stiprā salā uz sērsnas nonācis cirslis tur drīkst uzturēties vien dažas minūtes, citādi tas nosalst. Pēc termodinamikas likumiem – mazāks ķermenis atdziest ātrāk. Arī daudz lielākās strupastes, lielā salā nokļuvušas virs sniega, sastingst. Krievu zoologs A. Formozovs apraksta gadījumu, kad sermuļa izbaidītas strupastes, nonākušas sniega virspusē, paspēj noskriet vien četrus metrus, līdz salā sastingst. Vietās, kur sniega sega saglabājas ilgi, tā visā biezumā caurausta grauzēju alām. Uzkrītot svaigam sniegam, tiek atjaunotas izejas sniega virspusē. Tās kalpo alu sistēmas ventilācijai. Zem sniega grauzēji jūtas tik labi, ka pat vairojas. Sniega alās uzkrājas barības atliekas, kuras veido savdabīgu armatūru. Alas un sniegā ierīkotās migas apledo. Saledojušais sniegs spēj pasargāt peļu migu pat no lapsas. Izveidojoties sērsnai, tās spiestas mainīt ēdienkarti, jo sērsna neļauj lapsām, kā ierasts, ar triecienu cauri sniegam ielauzties peles alā. Gadījumā, kad alternatīvais barības avots nav pieejams pietiekamā daudzumā, lapsas sāk badoties, neraugoties uz to, ka zem sniega peļu ir papilnam.

Protams, lapsas ir tikai viens no plēsējiem, kurš kāro peļu šķiņķīšus. Zebiekstes un sermuļi var parādīties jebkurā laikā un vietā. Šo plēsēju garais, slaidais ķermenis ir ideāli piemērots ložņāšanai pa grauzēju alām. Augumā lielākie seski un ūdeles medī robustāk - sagraujot grauzēju alu sistēmu. Peļu migas atrok caunas, lapsas, jenotsuņi un vilki. Virs sniega grauzējiem uzglūn kraukļi, vārnas un peļu klijāni.

Vigo Kangars, pētnieks

Lets discover the nature together!

We have always been attracted to the unknown. Traditionally humans wanted to be present at the most concealed natural processes. This possibility was originally given by films about nature, but animals there are mostly provoked, so we obtained a false sense of natural phenomena. Once, to observe the animals and birds, researchers had to sit long hours in uncomfortable hides in the rain and wind and frost. Now, the new technology offers opportunities to observe natural processes without leaving their homes. This is made possible by web and video cameras, which are installed at the observation site, allowing to obtain an undistorted information. Recently, this practice has reached the Baltic countries and Latvia; remember the projects at the black stork nests in Estonia and the opportunity to watch the lesser spotted eagle nesting here in Latvia. Since the beginning of January within the project of Baltic Green Belt it is possible to watch the landscape live from the lighthouse of Slitere. Second video camera will be installed in various locations, which are visited extensively by birds and other animals, allowing to look into SNP bird and mammal world. We will pick out the most interesting fragments so you will be able to watch this footage with enclosed comments of a researcher. Vigo Kangars, the researcher